**This post originally appeared in August, noting my support for George Appel in the only seriously contested judicial race in Snohomish County. Appel and his opponent Joe Wilson have moved through the primary and are facing off now. Appel remains easily the best candidate in my view.
Sunday (8/3) update: In addition to the original discussion of George Appel's candidacy for judge below, the Everett Herald today gives him a straight-up endorsement in the three way race:
...we endorse George Appel as the candidate with the best combination of experience, intelligence, humility and temperament.[snip]
Appel, a senior deputy prosecuting attorney, has the potential to be an outstanding judge. He is known as a tireless prosecutor who has earned a reputation as a champion of victims' rights. He has the clear and vocal support of those who have worked most closely with him, and is widely respected throughout the legal community. We think he has what it takes to make consistently sound, well-reasoned judgments. He also has an impressive record of community service...
Original post:
Voters in Snohomish County have a three-way primary to settle for an open Superior Court position on their August 19th ballot. Of those choices, I'm voting for George Appel.
I'm familiar with his family, particularly based on his wife's work on behalf of Republican candidates, and like his background as a Senior Deputy County Prosecutor.
For good or for ill, these races also often come down to endorsements, especially from law enforcement groups, as voters seek information in low-profile races. On that score, I believe Appel's campaign is unmatched in the race:
- He has support from former Snohomish County Sheriff Rick Bart as well as Sheriff Bureau Chief and candidate for Sheriff in 2007, Tom Greene. Both are Republicans.
- He has support from current Snohomish County Prosecutor Janice Ellis and former Prosecutor Seth Dawson. Both are Democrats.
- He won the support of the Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs (WACOPS) and the Snohomish County Deputy Sheriffs Association, plus eight more local police and firefighter organizations.
- He earned endorsements from Republican and Democratic elected leaders alike. Examples of the former include County Councilman John Koster, State Representative Dan Kristiansen, and Mukilteo Mayor Joe Marine. Examples of the latter includes state legislators Al O'Brien, Mike Sells, and Paull Shin.
Both of his opponents lack his experience in the judicial system or breadth of support, and they're partisan Democrats. That makes George Appel an easy choice in my book.
UPDATE: typo fixed.
Posted by Eric Earling at October 22, 2008 06:48 AM | Email ThisGeez met George at one of his meet-n-greets. Geez was there with his fluorescent lime-yellow shirt, gunnin' for bear. I asked him a "loaded" question, and got an absolutely straight-up answer, unadorned by that "judges can't comment on that" bee ess.
If the Geez thinks a DV prosecutor is an ok guy, you can make bank on him.
He sure has my vote!
Geezer OUT!
www.hatemalepost.blogspot.com
www.thespinmeister.blogspot.com
Having said that, however, it's either going to be Appel or Johanson who gets my vote. Joe Wilson's television ad has, as far as I am concerned, put him out of the running. If Joe was qualified to be a judge, perhaps he would know that using a representative from a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization (in this case, Vicki Hilty from the Center for Battered Women) is a clear violation of IRS regulations governing nonprofits - i.e. employees of nonprofits may not in their professional capacity endorse or campaign for (or against) anyone running for public office. It's black-letter law. In running that ad, Joe Wilson is putting the Center for Battered Women's 501(c)3 nonprofit status at risk.
At best, that ad is an example of extremely poor judgment on behalf of both Joe Wilson and the Center for Battered Women. At worst, it's unethical. I can't support anyone who would do that.
Posted by: Sandra Dean on August 3, 2008 10:02 AMBut thanks for pointing it out.
Posted by: The Geezer on August 3, 2008 07:13 PMBesides, isn't he a "main squeeze" for Cantwell?
Johannson is heavy into D politics and was State Representative some time back.
I do know Wilson is very conservative (don't know his voting tendencies) but can work both sides of the aisle very effectively by concentrating on the issues. Which is what you want in a judge. (Disclaimer: I have plenty of his signs placed on my property).
Don't know anything of Appel, but he sounds good. I am just concerned Johannson could win because of his south county and D political location.
Posted by: swatter on August 4, 2008 07:44 AMPS I person from the Johannson came by to talk.
He could not answer many of my questions. )-:
Let's set the record straight with regard to his opponents though... they are not conservative. Joe Wilson is your standard democrat. His endorsements read like a who's who of Snohomish County d's.
Posted by: gk360 on August 6, 2008 11:16 AMAnd it gets worse. Not an hour ago, I got robo-called by Wilson's campaign. The speaker? Someone from CBW, urging me to vote for him.
I'm nearly as shocked that I seem to be the only person appalled by this, as I am shocked by the fact that they're pulling this stunt.
Posted by: Sandra Dean on August 9, 2008 01:44 PMJohannsen has hired some marketing firm in Olympia and has paid them several tens of thousands to market himself, while the other two have more modest contributions and expenditures.
I saw JJ with 100k in contributions and loans (of which at least 40k was a personal loan) and the other two were at 40k. That just raises red flags with me that some guy would spend that much money to get a Superior Court judge position.
I got a postcard from a good friend over the weekend asking me to vote for Appel. That goes a long ways.
However, while Wilson may or not be a Republican, he is more a SnoCo Democrat than a Democrat. I know he has an intense interest in the law and that is why I am voting for him in the primary. Appel seems also to be a good choice.
Posted by: swatter on August 11, 2008 08:05 AMIf these people don't respect the people they want to represent, then forget it.
I also have troubles now that this judgeship is becoming a family matter. Appel's sister-in-law is already on the bench. One in the family is enough.
As for the rest, it is very rare that two outstanding candidates are running against each other. This court position is well-served if either wins.
Posted by: swatter on October 22, 2008 07:30 AMI am certain he is a very nice man. I am certain that what he presents to voters is what he truly believes to be true about himself. I know that he is scrupulously honest.
But there is a rigidity to him, and a real partisanship that extends to his role as prosecutor that is very troublesome. I would expect a career prosecutor who intends to sit in judgment of both the guilty and the innocent to be more flexible than he has shown himself to be.
By the way, he is more than just a "DV" prosecutor; he has prosecuted other violent felonies and non-violent felonies, homicides and has supervised misdemeanor attorneys at his office. I think the diversity of his experience as a prosecutor might be a little underrepresented in Pudge's endorsement; it is considerable.
I also think that it is reasonable to expect the defense bar to affidavit him in virtually every criminal case that comes before him, so he is likely to hear mostly civil matters. And he has virtually no experience in civil law.
Joe Wilson presents problems too. That DUI conviction 10 or 15 years ago isn't a dealbreaker, but one has to wonder about just how strictly a judge will interpret law when he has violated the law himself. But his experience as a lawyer has more breadth than George Appel's. He just doesn't seem to be as lop-sided.
Also, Richard Thorpe, whose seat both lawyers are running to fill, has endorsed Wilson. Thorpe is a crabby old cuss, he is certainly no liberal. Rumor has it that he stepped down when he did because he didn't want a Democrat appointing his replacement; he wanted an election. But, of course, that is just a rumor.
Anyhow, I just thought I'd throw in what meager scuttlebutt I possess.
Posted by: Oddest Ever on October 22, 2008 09:23 PMOdd Man, hey, the guy cleaned up.
Funny thing, Thorpe was the judge when I was there with Johanssen representing the plaintiff. I thought he did good and I thought he was extremely patient with Johannsen.
Posted by: swatter on October 23, 2008 02:06 PM